Page 95 of Please, Forgive Me

“Carol,” I began, turning to face her, my eyes bright with a determination I hadn’t known I had until now. “He made me doubt myself. He made me feel small, less-than, and ruined months that should’ve been the happiest of my life. I won’t let him get away with it. I won’t let him think he can treat people like that and walk away unscathed. I’m not the same Maria Gabriela he mistreated. He’s going to have to deal with a new woman now—one who’ll never bow her head to him again. And yes, I will make him pay.”

Carolina returned my smile, finally understanding. She shook her head, impressed.

“Well, Diego better get ready, because I’ve never seen you like this. Strong, decided… He has no idea who he’s dealing with now.”

“He will,” I murmured, looking down at Clara once more. “And when he does, it’ll be too late.”

DIEGO BITTENCOURT

“Funny—you’re the one who wanted the results as soon as possible, but now you’re taking forever to open that envelope,” my brother said, sitting across from me with his usual air of criticism.

“Yeah.”

He kept his arms crossed, eyes locked on the damn envelope resting on my desk.

I couldn’t move. I just stared at the sealed paper, too afraid to touch it.

I didn’t even know what scared me more.

I’d spent months convincing myself that Maria Gabriela was lying—that it was all a ploy to stay connected to me, to force a bond I never wanted.

And now, the answer was right there in front of me—the truth I’d claimed to want, suddenly feeling as heavy as a ton of bricks on my chest.

“You planning to stand there all day, or are you going to open it already?” Alexandre prodded, his patience running thin.

I let out a deep breath, resting my elbows on the desk. My hands were sweating—a rare feeling for me.

I’d never been the type to hesitate, never the kind of man to let a situation control me. But that single piece of paper held something that could change everything.

And I knew it.

“I don’t know why I’m like this,” I started, then stopped, unable to find the right words. “I wanted this so badly, but now…”

“You’re scared of what you’ll find,” Alexandre finished for me, reading my mind like always.

“Maybe.”

He’d been doing that since we were kids—reading every flicker of emotion I tried to hide.

“You’ve spent months doubting her. What if the result is exactly what you’ve been afraid of? What if it’s the opposite of what you’ve been telling yourself over and over?”

I met his gaze, my jaw tight.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

“Unbelievable,” Alexandre muttered, shaking his head in disappointment. “You’ve always been the guy who makes decisions, who leads, who never flinches. And now you’re afraid of a piece of paper?”

“It’s not just a piece of paper,” I shot back, my voice low. “It’s my life. If this… proves I’m the father, what the hell am I supposed to do? How do I even deal with that?”

He sighed, leaning forward, his hands flat on the desk.

“You deal with it the way you always do—with strength. With the same determination you use to run this company.” His eyes locked onto mine. “And more importantly, you take responsibility, Diego. That’s what you do.”

I couldn’t afford to fall apart.

With one last breath, I finally reached for the envelope. Alexandre watched silently, letting me take my time. I tore the seal carefully, like the paper might break apart in my hands. I pulled out the documents and started to read.

My hands trembled slightly as my eyes moved over the words.